Pellet forming machine



March 29, 1932. F. D. BROWN 1,851,490

' PELLET FORMINGMACHINE 9 Filed Aug. 18, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet l T?. l /M*13 BY 75a Z3 MMM@ ATTORNEYS March 29, 1932. F 'D, BROWN 1,851,490

PELLET FORMING MACHINE Filed Aug. 18, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 E /6 l I v|Nv ENToR Y i E60/705 Mfg/UW f6 MM M@ ATTORNEYS v March 29, 1932. F D'.BROWN w 1,851,490.

PELLET FORMING-MACHINE Filed Aug. 18, 1951 .5 sheets-sheet 3 1 INVENTOR[affine/5 Me/01m ATTORN lYS March 29,l 1932. F. D. BROWN PELLET FORMINGMACHINE 5 sheets-sheet 4 Filed Aug. 18, 1951 @M ,c @JWM m@ m WA4 lmMarch 29, 1932.

F. D. BROWN PELLET FORMING MACHINE Filed Aug. 18, 193l 5 Sheets-Sheet 5f5 gzoaoacoaovl aB-a UJ/M WW Mm 0 Patented Mar. 29, i 1932 To CHAELEsALAN, OE PoIyIoNA, CALIFORNIA .f v

PELLET EOEMING MACHINE application med August 18, 1.931.v semi No.557,771.'

This invention relates to a machine for acting upon a coherent plasticmass to form pellets.

pellets ofpoultry mash and may be lused in the process disclosed in mycopending application Ser. No. 557,770, filed Augustll, 1931'for poultryfeed pellets. of4 this 'invention `to provide" a machine into which theplastic mass may be fed and which continuously acts uponthat massV to'.form pellets. Another more specific object of this invention is toprovide a` machine wherein. aiv

sheet isinitially formedand thefsheet dividedf into pellets. n tion isto provide a machine asA` described' Y wherein the sheet 1s firstseparated intostrifps- Y andthereafter the strips :are divided intolengths forming` pellets. A still further-.olif ject of this inventionis to provide a machine' having features as beforey described andwherein the pellets are coated with material` to prevent stickingtogether. y v These objects are accomplishedby means of the embodimentof'my invention. disclosed .y e p p )rollersffQS and the' sheet ismolded into vparv in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Fig. 1 is asidel elevation of thelcomplete machine; Fig. 2 is asectional'lelevation;.Fig. 3 is a section as seen on the line of Fig.

1; Figs. @and 5 are sectionscas seen on the;

lines correspondingly numbered in Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectionshowing afrag! ment of the machine with the strip forming rollers inplan view;'Figs..7 and 8 are 'sec ltions as seen on theflinecorrespondingly4 numbered in Fig. 2; Fig. 9 is an elevation partly insection of amodified form of roller to be substituted for the stri-pforming rollers to form pellets directly from' thev sheet; Fig; 1() is asection as seen on the line 10e-100i.z

Fig.k 9; Fig. 11 is a Yperspective viewof aV pellet formed bythe machineshown in Figs. 1 to 8; and Fig. 12` isa perspectivevi'ew. of the pelletformed by theuse of therrollers shown in Figs. 9 `and 10.:

Referring more particularly to Figs. V1 togS inclusive, suitableframework 15 is provided having'bars for supporting the rollers, pul-r`leys, gears and otherfelements forming the structure. Mounted on the topcross bars are bearing blocks adjustable `to and from each Itisespecially adaptable to forming s It is the primary object@ A furtherobject'of this inven are scraper othei` Vand iournalled therein areliuilleycylin", l l

theinner runs of belts19 convergel downwardlvtoward one another and.they are caused toiftravel so thatv a plasticmass' deliY-f i )ered atthe top willbeadvanced.downwardly l I and initially formed intoa sheet.Below theA pulleysg17. are final sheet. forming,Y rollers 2O-.1 1

A passageway is .formed 'between the belts 19A scraper plates 22.`

y Strip forming. rollers are journalled the frame. below scraper plates22 and" comprise contacting cylinders7523,.` bestshownin yand therollers'QOvby:scraper plates 21. which l clean anyadherentlfmaterialfrom the outer; surfaces Offbelts 19...-Below rollers-20-are` circular` passagesare` formed.` .a4 The f finally l formed.sheet passes` 'between ,strip forming allel str-ips. :Below stripVforming rollers23` rollers. v 1 dournalled inv the frameatalower level.than rollers 23 are pulley 'cylinders 26,4 and y 27 Vover which-passes aconveyor belt 281 At plates 24and 25 toclean the L ff the' lside of. theframe" is a hopper `29"ha vingf i a discharge opening l'30 directlyabovey the i upper run of belt 28. Extending across hopper 29'isanimpelleif31'.v Pulverulentfeorn mealv or like coating material issupplied to hopper 29- and delivered tothe-upper lrun of belt 28. At theopposite side of themachine is a hopper '32 with an impeller `33 forcans# ,Y

ing passage of corn: meal vthrough a'V nozzle 311. whosew` dischargeopening; is' vdisposed above thebelt'28 to `deliver corn meal coat- Eing upon-the surface ofjstrips which repose upon the belt 28 andarebeing advancedtowardacutte'r. r i

Extending across to Vthe f frame yis a knife bar lthe bladeAthereof;having itsfplane jeX-` y tending `in the samedirectionyas`thenpper v runofr belt-28 andthe blade being. .disposed meevaller:,Strips will fbeyadeile 11-- e by the belt 28 and passed over thestationary reciprocating knife 38 is provided. This knife 'blade 35. Arotary cutterl 36 is journalled the frame'and comprises blades ar`'ranged to sweep by the stationary yknife 35 and thereby sever the stripsinto short lengths or .pellets4 The blades-are 4spaced so that? asquirrelcage cylinder is formed.

Thefpellets dropv into va chute 37 and areldeliveredl V.therefrom Y totdrying land toasting apparatus not shown herein.l .It hasjbeeny foundthat the strips may stick to stationary bladeV 35 and in order to cleanthe'latter, a

knife lhas a blade overhangingthe blade of l knife 35 and is mounted toslide on a bar 39.

The knife 38 is providedwith a .stem 40 secured to aconnecting rod-lliConnecting rod 41 is mounted upon a crank pin 421e):-

tending fromv a disk 43g Disk 43` is mounted upon a lshaft 44 to which:a bevel gear 45is secured for yoperationV as later described."

The rollers, pulleys, rotaryrcutterand4 impellers heretofore describedhavetrunnions indicatedv conventionally f by l46, there being .Y arejournalledin bearingsatfthe top ofathe frameand mounted upon theirshafts 18a are i sprocket. pinions '55. Mountedl on shaftg20aaresprocket Wheels Y56. Af sprocket .fwheel v57 ismounted onshaft'23aanda sprocket Vvvheel .58- on shaft 23m Journalledf on theV Y side Yoftheframe are sprocket wheels 59vand 60. `A sprocket chain 6l is passedaround shafts 18a, 20a, 23a and 26a are drivenxby the chain 6l. 1'Sprocket Wheels'62 are mounted on YshaftV 17a and geared to sprocketpin- 1 ions -55 by chain`63. -Thus, roller'pul'leys 17 are driven. Onshaft V23a are pulleys *64v geared to pulleys on impeller 31 by belts65..

Thus, v the kimpellers .31 f are driven'.` A

sprocket Wheel 66 isr mounted onone ofthe.

shafts 23a andgeared to a sprocket Wheel v67 Vbyfimeansofachain 68.-Thisprovides Vfor .w driving. the conveyor belt 28. Shaft 23a has a` pulley69V geared to a pulley 7 O on shaft 36 by means ofy a-.belti,7l.vThis'provides for driving therotaryfcutter. 'i One ofthe shafts 23a hasav bevell pinion 73 meshing'vvith `a pinion 45,'thus' serving to drivethecleaning knifel3'8, l Y" l. V

V order to tak'ejup 'any'slackin'the'drive" be1t,j`a` 'takeup roller 75is mountedjon arm bevel pinion 7 4f forming one of a j pair,"t heother'member of the pairme'shing With bevel -76 and rides uponfthe uppersurface ofbelt l A 52. For the -conveyor belt 28 an vadjustable roller78isy provided.r The adjustable bear# Y ing for shaft lar'provides formaintaining belt l9 taut. Obviously, there are other ad justableAbearings -Which are .common 'mechanical eXpe'dients. f v

.The [machine illustratedL is adapted to form pellets of a poultryfoodmash.A The mash is groundand mixed' Withdiquidto;

form a doughy'mass which is fed into the incarried dovvnvvardly by thebelts andV ini-v tially Aformedfintoasheetl AThis sheet passes throughthelinal sheet forming rollers 20 and emerges therefrom/in final form.Next it passes between the .istrip .formingv yrollers v 23 andthe massis delivered: in stripsfto the conveyor belt 28'Whfchhas beenvcoated.with

corn meal. The lstrips are further'covered VVtake of the machine betweenbelts 19. It is l j onthe'ir upper faces With corn, meal and andknifeV35 Wherel rthe strips z are V.severed into. pellets anddropped throughchutei x37 for-further treatment;

passed to the cooperating rotarycutterl36 The .pellets have avsubstantially.dryeuterl coating of corn meal. Although the pellets areform retaining', they Vare soft.` Theyv` 'are' `thenipassed through' adryer whichtakes .out the surface'moistureand then through a hotv dryer,but arenotialloW-ed' toi-remain suffi.l

ciently long toYgenerate'steam suchas would `disruptNthe pellets.y.'Next, they .are"passedV through a toaster.` Ther last operationsfareYnot shown or lillustrated herein Vand'formgthe 'subject matter of acopending application..V Y ThereV maybe substituted for the stripforming rollers. rand 'the knifecuttenrollers Y l 'which directly'forml`the .pelletsifrc-m the I sheets. Such rollers are ,shown in Figs. 9 and-10.v Insteadjo'f one of the rollers 23, 'a rollerr 79 consisting.oflafshell having circumferentialY series of pitsj 80. fcrmed therein.The

roller 7 9 is. carriedv on one trunnio'nSl' and*` the other end is open.Ducts 82-'place the 'pitsA in communication V.Withthe ybor'eof .theshell.'

Mounted in thebo're of shell 79isa stationaryshell. 83 having a 1hollowy trunnionV 84. A

longitudinally Vextending slot 85 is'formed inVV shell 83'. The-hollovvjtrunnion 84is connected to-an air blower, thearrangement'beingV such that las Vthe shell v7 9 revolvesa long1tudinal'row ofducts 82 register Iwith slot 85'and air is` forced through the" ducts.

This Will dislodge from the pits .any of the pellets whichy maysticktherein.` AA1cooperatingroller'may consist of a smooth'facev rollersimilar to ,theV pressure roller 20. There are other obvious changes inthe structure whichmayfbe n radev Without departing fromthejinventi'onifx f ffVVhatIclaimfiszfV QL l 1. Alfood pellctformingmachine"for-act-- Y ing upon a coherent mass comprising'a'frame,a'pairfof juxtaposed lendlessfbelts at the inl. takeofsaidimachineconverging toward. Vone Y another from'the intake endtoW'ardthe-disvcumferential indentations to divide said charge end ofthe' machine for initially forming a sheet of said mass; a pairofjuxtaposed final sheet forming rollers at thediscfharge end of saidbelts to receive 4and finally form said sheet; a pair of molding'rollersdisposed to receive said sheet andprovided with. cirsheet; a conveyorbelt disposed :for ldelivery of the divisions from said moldingiollersto saidconveyor belt; a revolving cutter' Lfoi severingsaiddivisionsinto` pellets as they pass from said conveyor belt; and meansto move said belts,` rollers and. revolving'cutter to advance vsaidcoherent mass through saidV machine from inlet to discharge. .v u y 2.A. food pellet `forming machine for VVacting Vupon a coherent masscomprising Va,

frame; a pair offjiixtaposed endless belts at the intake of said machineconverging toward one anotl'ierfrom the intake Vend toward thevdischarge end of the machine fork initially forminga sheet of saidmass; a pair of juxtaposed final sheet forming rollers atthe 'dischargeend of said belts to receive and finally form said sheet; a pair ofstrip forming rollers disposed to receive saidslieetand pro- :vided with"circumferential -grooves to mold and compress 'said sheet into strips;`a strip belt disposed for deliveryof the `strips from saidstriprforming rollers to` said :strip belt;

a cutter' to severfsaid strips intoipellets; and 'means to move lsaidbelts, rollers and-cutter to advancezsaid mass through said machineVfrom inlet to discharge` 1 s r' 3. A food pellet forming vmachine foracting upon a coherent mass'com'prising a frame;

' a' pair of juxtaposed endlesszbeltsatfthe Aintake of said machineconvergingtovvard one another vfrdm the intake lend Atoward thedischarge end of themachine for initially form-1 ing a sheet of saidmass; arpair; of juxtaposed linal sheet forming rollers at the dischargeend of said belts to receive and "finally form` l cutter havingaplurality of spaced knives to coact with said stationary knife and.sever said strips into pellets, and means to move.y

said belts, rollers and revolving'cutter to-advance said mass throughsaid machine from inlet to discharge vandfto reciprocate said cleaningknife.V A i i i i f 'f 4. A food pellet forming machine foi'-a'ct ing`upon a coherent `mass comprising a. frame; a pair of juxtaposedendless'belts at tlie intake of said* machine converging tocharge. Y v ev food pellet forming machinevfor act`v wrardrone:anotherwfrom theintakeend Vto-V s' Ward thejdischarge end ofth'egmachine for i initiallyforminga sheet of sjaid mass ;V a pair of juxtaposed inal'sheetformingrollers at i 'i the discharge endof saidbelt-s to receive andV finallyform said-sheet; a pair of molding rollers'disposed to receive saidsheet and provided with circumferential `indentations to'divide-sa'idsheet; a'iconveyor belt disposed f for delivery of- 'theidivisions fromsaid mold. ing rollersto said conveyor belt; means to coat saidfconveyorbelt with a dry piilverulent massfor they divisions reposing thereon; a

revolvingcutter for severing said divisions into. pellets as they passfrom said conveyor belt; and means to move said belts, lrollers Vandrevolving cutter vto advance said massV through said Vmachine from inletto .dise

5; i A ing upon a coherent mass comprising a frame a pair ofguxtaposedendless belts atf the in-v take of said machine convergingtovvardone another from the'intake end. toward thefdise charge end ofthe inacliinefor initially form-v said sheet; a pair o fmoldingrollersdis osed to receivesaid sheetf'and provided-Wit f'cirf. i cumferentialindentations to x :divide`,sa1 il'l sheet'ga conveyor belt disposed fordelivery :Esegui ing a sheet of said massi; apair of juxtaposedv ifinalV sheet ,forming rollers at thedisoharge Y 4end of saidv beltstorreceive andfinally form of thedi-visions from said inoldingrollersgVto said. conveyor beltg'fa 'hopperfandmeans i thereinLA to supply4 apulverulent dry -massfto the upper 'run of saidconveyor `belt iii-adeVance lof said ldivisions;aghopper andfmeans Y v thereinto supply.Aaipulverulent drym'assover thewdivisions reposing-on saidconveyorfbelt;

a 'revolving .cutter for severing said-divisions into pelletsas theypassfrom said conveyor belt, 'and means to 'move said'belts, rollersandrevolving. cutterfto advance saidV mass through saidinachine frominlet todischarge. 6.' A food pellet forming machine-forasting upon acoherent mass comprising aframe;

a pair of juxtaposed endless belts :atthe intake of saidV machineconverging toward one Vanother from the intake end toward the dischargeend of the machine for initially forming a sli'eetof:saidmass;v apair'of juxtaposedfiinaly sheet forming rollers-at the t dis` i tchargeend of said'belts to" receive and'iinally forinsaid sheet; a "pairqof4'strip forming rollers disposedto receive said sheetkfand provided Withcircumf'erentialk grooves lto mold and compress said; sheetv into strips;`a

stripbelt disposed for deliveryof the strips j l 'ff-rom said strip,forming rollers Ito said strip Qbeltl; means to coat thestripsgreposing on said i strip belt Withafdryy pulvernlent mass;ycutter means to sever saidstrips into pellets; and

means tofmove 'said belts, rollers andV cutter v means to advancesaidmass throughsaid ma- `chine from `inlet todis'charge. p

7.- A food pellet forming machine.-forgactFL ing Lipo-na coherentniasscomp'i-ising a frame;

a pair of ljuxtaposed endless belts at Ythe in-Y take of said machineconvergingtoward one V another from the intake :endr toward thedischarge end of the machine for -initially form.-

` ing a sheet o-'f said massi; a pair of juxtaposed final sheetlforiningrollersfatthe discharge end vof saidbeltstto receive and finally form esaid sheet; a pair of strip forming rollers dis- Y kposed to receivesaidsheet and provided With circumferential grooves gto -mold and'compresssaid sheet into strips; a strip beltdis- Vposed for delivery of thestrips .from said strip forming rollers to said strip belt; a hop- Y perand means therein to supply a pulverulent dryinass -to the upper run ofsaid stripV belt in .advance of saidstrips;a.hopper and means therein tosupply a pulverulent dry7 mass over the strips reposiiiggon said stripbelt; cutter Vnieans toseversaid strips into pellets; and

means to move saidY belts, rollers and cutter ineansto advance saidinassthrough said maf chine from inlet .to discharge.v

1 A food pellet formingina'chine foractving upon acoherent inas'scomprising aframe; a` pair'of juxtaposed endless belts at the intake ofsaid machine converging toward one'an` other from the ,intakel:endtoward the discharge end ofthe .machin-afer initiallyfforinv ingarsheetof saidmass; a pair of juxtaposed final "sheet forming rollersVat the discharge end of said belts tocreceive and finally ,form

`saidsheet ;a pair o fstripf-forming rollers disf/ vposed-'to receivesaid sheet andprovided-With j vcircumferential grooves tomold andcompress said sheet Vintostri-ps; astrip belt vdisposed for delivery: ofthe'fs'tripsfrom said strip.

1 forming rollersftosaidfstrip belt; means `to coat-the'fstripsreposingon saidstrip beltwith a drylpulverulent mass; a stationaryknifeat V`thedischargeend. of said stripbelt for pas` sagethereover'ofsaid stripsgin their ad.-y

vance; a cleaningfknife reciprocable across said stationary. knife; arevolving cutter hav'- .ing a plurality of spaced knives-to .coact withsaid stationary knife and sever saidstrips into pellets; and means tomovesaid belts, rollers btake of saidmachine convergingtoward onefanother fromI the intake end toward the" discharge-end: ofthemachinefforinitially formv VLing a'she'etof said mass `a'pair ofjuxtaposed :finaljsheet forming rollers atfthe'discharge C@ 'end of saidbelts toreceiveand finally form'.V

f said sheet; apair-of strip forming rollers disposed to receivesaidsheet and .provided with circumferential grooves toniold and compress:said sheetr into strips.; a strip beltdispose'd for delivery ofthestrips from said strip `forming rollersto. said strip belt; a' hopperandmeans Y .thereink to supply apulverulentL *dryY mass to theupper run'ofsaid belt in advanceofsaid strips, ahopper and means therein to supply,a pulverulentdry mass over the strips-repos- 'iiig von said stripbelt.; astationary .knife at the dischargefend of saidstrip belt forpassage thereover of said strips in their'advance; a Vrevolving Y.cutter' having a plurality `of spaced knives to coact Withsaid'stationary knife and severA said stripsinto pellets; and Y means tomove said belts, rollers and revolving cutter to advance saidA massthrough saidv machine from inlet to discharge.y

f 10.V A. food. pellet forming machine acting upon a coherent masscomprising a frame; a pair of juxtaposed'endless belts at the intake ofsaid machine convergingtoward y one another from the intake en d towardthe discharge end of thema'chine-v 'forinitially forming a sheet'of saidmass; -apair ofjux'ta l1 posed `final ksheet forming rollers at thedis.. Y charge end of said belts to receiveand finally 1 form saidsheet; af pair of strip forming rollers disposed toreceive said sheetand pro-g videdriwith circumferential grooves tov-flnolfl`v and compresssaid sheet intostrips;;a stripv vbelt disposed fork delivery ofthestrips from 'e said strip forming rollersv to said ,strip belt; aYhopper and Vmeans 'therein-'to :supply a pulverulent drymass totheupper run of said belt in advance Vofsaidistrips; afhopperfa'nd `meansthereinjto supplya pulverulent dry mass over. Vthe i strips reposingon,v rsaid strip belt; a stationary knife at fthe discharge end-of saidstrip` beltffor'I passage thereover of said strips in theiradvance; acleaning knife recip'- rocable across said stationary knife ;v arevolving cutterhavinga'plurality ofspaced knives Vto coact Withisaidstationary knife and ysever i said .strips into pellets ;rv and means tomove said belts, rollers' andrevolvingfcutter to advance said massthrough said machine from inlettovfd'is'charge` and-to reciprocate saidcleaning knife. f

virri food. peli-et forminglmachiae fof acting upon a coherent masscomprising .a frame a pair of moldingrollers disposed to receivea sheetof said'mass and provided with circumferential indentations to dividesaid sheet; sheet formingV means disposed to 4form and feed a sheet ofsaid vmass tosaid rollers; a 'conveyor belt disposed'for de'livery'oflthe divisions from said rollers to said belt; cutter n meansA forsevering said divisions into pellets as theypassfrom *saidiconveyorbelt; vand mechanism Jcooperate saidrollers; belt 'and means toadvance#saidV massV throughY said machine from inlet to discharge.

12; A food pelletgforming machine .for actving upon a coherent massycomprising 'a frame a pair ofmolding rollers disposed-to receive asheet of said Vmass" and vprovided with cir# cumferential indentation'svto divide `said sheet sheet forming meansdisposed ,to feed iso saidfmassto said rollers; a conveyor belt disposed for delivery of thedivisions from said rollers to said belt; a hopper and feed meanstherein to supply a pulverulent dry mass to said belt; cutter means forsevering said divisions into pellets as they pass fromsaid conveyorbelt; and mechanism to operate said rollers, belt,isheet forming meansand feed means. Y

13. A food pellet forming machine for acting upon a coherent masscomprising aframe; a pair of molding rollersdisposed to receive Y asheetof said mass and provided with circumferential indentations todivide said sheet; sheet forming means disposed to feed said mass tosaid rollers; a conveyor belt disposed for delivery of thedivisionsfromsaid rollers to said belt; a revolving cutter for severingsaid divisions' into pellets as they pass from said conveyor belt; `andmechanism to operate said rollers, beltl means and cutter. '14. A foodpellet forming machine foracting upon a coherent mass comprising aframe; a pair vof molding rollers disposed to receive a sheet of saidmass and provided with cir- Y cumferential indentations to divide saidhaving a plurality of spaced knives to coact v With said stationaryknife andsever said divi sions into pellets; and means to move Vsaidbelts, rollers and revolving cutter to ad-V Vance said massthrough saidmachinefrom Y Y inlet to discharge.

In Witness that I claim day. of July, 1931. Y

FRANCIS DODGE BROWN..

sheet; sheet forming means disposed to feed Y;

said mass to said rollers; a conveyor belt disposed for delivery of thedivisions from said rollersto said belt; a hopper and feed means thereinto supply a pulverulent dry mass to said belt; a revolving f cutter forsevering said divisions into pellets as they passfromL said conveyor;and mechanismfto operateA said rollers, belt, means and cutter.

l5. A food pellet forming machine for act- Y ing upon a coherent masscomprising a frame; a pair of molding rollers disposed to receive asheet of said mass and lprovided with circumferential indentations todivide said sheet; sheet forming means disposed to -feed posed fordelivery of the divisions fromsaid rollers to said belt; a stationaryknife at the discharge end of said belt for passage thereover of saiddivisions; a: revolving cutter having a plurality of spaced knives tocoact With said stationary knifeV and sever Y said divisions intopellets; and mechanism vto operate said mea-ns, rollers, belt andcutter.

16. A food pellet forming machine for acting upon a coherent masscomprising a frame; a pair of juxtaposed endless. belts at the intake ofsaid machine converging towards one Vanother from the intake end 'towardthe disend of said belts to receive and finally form said sheet; a pairof molding rollers dis-Vk Y posed toreceive said'sheet and provided withcircumferential indentations to divide said sheet; a conveyor beltdisposed for delivery of divisions from said molding rollers to saidconveyor belt; a stationary knife atthe disthe foregoing I havehereuntosubscribed my name this 28th soV

